MedPage Today: More $$$ Going to Medicare Advantage Plans

WASHINGTON — Payments to Medicare Advantage plans will increase by 3.3% in 2014, Medicare officials said late Monday.

Officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) based the payment increase on the assumption that Congress will override scheduled cuts in physician reimbursements for an 11th consecutive year, the agency said.

“The policies announced today further the agency’s goal of improving payment accuracy in all our programs, while at the same time ensuring program stability and preserving beneficiary choice,” Jonathan Blum, PhD, CMS’ acting principal deputy administrator, said in a press release.